Today's Big Ten pre-camp preview... 8. Michigan When last we left the Wolverines they were doing well to finish 3-9, this after a scrambling comeback from 19 points down to beat Wisconsin. How does Meechigan drop this dramatically? System change from pro style to spread-option. Coaching change from fatherly-family atmosphere of the Lloyd Carr staff to all-business, high-pressure approach of... Full story »

"I thought he did good. He had one play where he lined up on the ball and he's suppose to be off of the ball but other than that, that's a minor thing, if I can pick that one thing out that's pretty good. He did some good things. We gave him an opportunity. That live period was more of... Full story »

Today's installment of the Big Ten pre-camp preview: 9. Wisconsin It's been three years going on four for Bret Bielema as the Wisconsin boss and he's looking less like the next Barry Alvarez every year. The Badgers got destroyed by a so-so Florida State outfit in the Champs Sports Bowl and that came after an 0-4 Big Ten start that... Full story »

I'm going through the Big Ten bottom to top this week and next, just for kicks. One team a day -- or every other day, depending if I can get wireless down in western NC where I'm picking up my kid from camp in a few days. Maybe I'll knock on someone's door down the holla and hook up to... Full story »

Marty Mornhinweg, in his morning briefing at Eagles camp, fielded a few specific questions about LeSean McCoy's progress. A quick rundown, nothing earthshaking of course, but something to lighten the drumbeat of testimonials following the death of the man maybe most responsible for the Eagles' new-millennium resurgence, Jim Johnson: On how much McCoy was able to retain from the earlier... Full story »

CHICAGO -- Just arrived for the Big Ten football media days kicking off tomorrow (Monday) morning at 11 EDT with Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald and ending with Iowa's Kirk Ferentz at 2. Joe Paterno is scheduled for 1:45. The Big Ten Network has been promoting a live broadcast of the dais opening statements and Q&A sessions. Offhand, I can't promise this... Full story »

With the onset of the Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals, everyone's been writing and talking about the franchises' classic battles of the 1980s featuring Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson. But let's drift back even farther, before the first moon landing, to the last duel between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. If you needed any more evidence that every TV moment of all... Full story »

In the end, the lure of his hometown and a head coaching job offset financial considerations and the big stage. And Hilliary Scott, father of a toddler and newborn, found the combination too attractive to pass up. The Penn State men's basketball assistant, the only minority on the staff, is going home to Lynchburg, Va., to take the head coaching... Full story »

Former Bucknell assistant and current Lycoming head coach Don Friday will be the new head coach at St. Francis of PA. Friday was the longtime lead assistant under Pat Flannery at BU and has more recently been at Lycoming. This is his first Division I top job. The Altoona Mirror reported the story in today's editions. PSU assistant Kurt Kanaskie... Full story »

This little gemfrom Sam Smith, onetime Chicago Trib NBA beat writer and author of the legendary The Jordan Rules, somehow evaded me for almost a month. But better late... It's a feature on reclusive but effective New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower. In case you don't remember -- barely anyone else does, either -- Bower was announced by Ed DeChellis... Full story »

At many successful programs, having assistant coaches lured to lead other teams is considered at once a necessary fact of the business and a source of pride. If your guys weren't any good, no one would want them./p But about now, Penn State head men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis could probably use a little less flattery. Not only is his... Full story »

At many successful college athletic programs, having assistant coaches lured to lead other schools is considered at once a necessary fact of the business and something of a source of pride. If your guys weren't any good, no one would want them./p But about now, Penn State head men's basketball coach Ed DeChellis could probably use a little less flattery.... Full story »

You remember Dave Bliss, the onetime Baylor men's basketball coach who tried to frame one of his own players as a druggie in 2003. The kid happened to be dead at the time, victim of a bullet fired by one of Bliss' solid-citizen student athletes. Well, Bliss, much like Michael Vick, has found Jesus just in the nick of time.... Full story »

Boy does Memphis look fast and confident and does UCLA look intimidated? Fumbled balls for Bruins. End-to-end dashes for Tigers. This game feels like it should be about a 14-point difference right now. If UCLA can limp to the lockers with the difference still 5 -- as it is now -- they should be ecstatic. AWOL: Darren Collison. Taken completely... Full story »

Another TO by Howland as soon as the pace gets too hasty. You might have noticed he called a :30 at 8:01, just two seconds ahead of the media time. He wants it that way. Back to back stoppages assure Memphis can't get on a protracted roll. Crew chief Shaw just blew his whistle for no reason anticipating the ball... Full story »

When Ben Howland called time at 17-12, not waiting for the media timeout, he needed to do two things -- slow the pace that favored Memphis; and get Kevin Love involved. Those two items go hand-in-hand and UCLA seems to have accomplished both, regaining their bearings. Bruins now trail by only 22-21 and have been whistled for only one foul... Full story »

SAN ANTONIO -- I can't quite believe my eyes, but the contentious Curtis Shaw is an official for the UCLA-Memphis game. He's standing over with his boys talking about who he's gonna tee up first. This is gonna be fun. Calipari and Howland riding this guy. Good luck. That's not all. Shaw calls more personal fouls than anyone in college... Full story »

Reports out of Detroit's Ford Field keep echoing - and we mean that both figuratively and sonically - that the insane court configuration virtually in the middle of a football dome leaves so many fans so far from the action that the atmosphere is lifeless. Well, get ready for the Final Four coming there with the exact same set-up next... Full story »

This is where the NCAA tournament enters a distinctly different phase. The giddiness and happy-to-be-there vibe of teams like Temple and Boise State and Belmont is replaced by a stern, down-to-business tone of programs who've been many times before -- like Michigan State. If the first and second rounds are all about Stephen Curry, the regionals are about Tom Izzo.... Full story »

This is where the tournament enters a distinctly different phase. The giddiness and happy-to-be-there vibe of teams like Temple and Boise State and Mount St. Mary's is replaced by a stern, down-to-business tone of programs who've been many times before -- like Michigan State. If the first and second rounds are all about Stephen Curry, the regionals are about Tom... Full story »